Explaining Long COVID: A Pioneer Cross-Sectional Study Supporting the Endocrine Hypothesis
Taieb Ach1,2,3, Nassim Ben Haj Slama1,2, Asma Gorchane1,2
1Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia.
Journal of the Endocrine Society
|January 23, 2024
Summary
Long COVID patients frequently show anterior pituitary deficiencies, impacting corticotroph and somatotroph functions. These findings support the endocrine hypothesis for long COVID pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, has an unclear pathogenesis.
- Several hypotheses exist, but a definitive explanation for long COVID remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the function of corticotroph and somatotroph axes in patients with long COVID.
- To identify potential pituitary deficiencies that may contribute to the development of long COVID.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study compared 32 long COVID patients with 32 fully recovered individuals.
- Corticotroph and somatotroph functions were assessed in patients 3-15 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Main Results:
- Long COVID patients exhibited significantly higher rates of anterior pituitary deficits in both corticotroph (28.1% vs 6.3%) and somatotroph (59.4% vs 31.3%) axes.
- Lower baseline and peak cortisol levels, along with lower peak growth hormone levels, were observed in the long COVID group.
Conclusions:
- Patients experiencing long COVID are more prone to anterior pituitary deficiencies.
- Anterior pituitary insufficiency is a potential contributing factor to the pathophysiology of long COVID.
Keywords:
COVID-19GH deficiencySARS-CoV-2central adrenal insufficiencyhypopituitarisminsulin tolerance testMore Related Videos
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